Everyone met back at the pub for supper. Mr. Weasley joined them there and helped Tom to move the tables together for the meal. He had arranged for a combination of Muggle and Wizard foods for their evening meal, which was at treat for all. Afterwards the teens returned to their rooms to pack with the help of their new friends.
As soon as she reached her room Liz pulled out her battery
operated CD player so she could share her favorite music with Hermione and
Ginny while they helped her pack. In the clothing compartment they packed
the winter coat and the dress robes, which she wouldn't need immediately, on
the bottom. Then they packed the three summer weight robes, three regular
robes and her regular clothes. When they were finally finished packing her
clothes Liz locked that compartment and opened the next, praising the inventor
of the three lock trunk as she looked at the new empty compartment.
Meanwhile in Kyle's room:
Kyle listened to Harry and the Weasley boys talk while he packed. They regaled him with house Quidditch matches from previous years. He, in turn, explained a bit of American football and showed them his gear.
He heard the music of Gomez and Sheryl Crow from Liz's room through he wall and felt a slight tug of nostalgia for the previous summer. Hanging out with Liz had been the highlight of that summer. After everything that had happened in the past year he was really surprised to be spending this summer anywhere near her. Of course if it hadn't been for Max, then neither of them would have seen this summer. But if it hadn't been for Max, then Kyle himself wouldn't have been shot, nor would he have lost Liz to him. Of course, Liz would be dead. He sighed heavily and tried to turn his mind back to the conversation at hand.
"So then Harry had to drink Skel-gro to replace the bones in his arm," Ron concluded.
"He was the most incompetent git we've ever had for a teacher. But at least he wasn't completely evil," Harry admitted.
Kyle felt a little lost due to his wandering mind but he did hear enough to question under his breath, "Do we have to battle evil everywhere I go?" He sighed again and began to pay closer attention.
Back in Liz's room:
Once they were done they spent an hour enjoying girl talk and getting to know each other a little better before Ginny and Hermione returned to their room.
After they left Liz wrote a letter to Maria.
Dear Maria.
It's a whole different world here. We got here at around 10 a.m. but
after close to 18 hours of traveling, we were beat.
The only thing we did yesterday besides eat and sleep was to get fitted for our uniforms. Our hotel rooms are over a pub but it's clean and quiet. And Tom the innkeeper watches over all the students.
Today we got all the rest of our school supplies. Oh and I bought a trunk to put everything in. It's much sturdier than the suitcase. We also met our student tutors today. One of them reminds me a lot of myself.
Remember that whole chart system I did last fall for the wait staff at the Crashdown? She did one for a study schedule. If the one I made was half as obnoxious as this one, I'm surprised you didn't kill me. Don't get me wrong, Hermione is the nicest girl, but she reminds me too much of me. It will probably do me good competition wise.
I am having a good time, so don't worry about me this summer. By the way, the mail may run a couple of days later after tomorrow. We catch our train to the school in the morning, so we'll be out in the country.
Well, I'd better get some sleep. Hug Mom for me. (She has one for you, too.)
Love you Chica,
Liz
Liz woke early. Between nervous energy and adjusting to the time difference, she wondered how she had slept any at all. She looked at her watch and saw 4:30. "Great. Just great," she thought.
She tried to go back to sleep but the hurtful words, which had taunted her for the last few weeks, were back. "She doesn't belong here," Nacedo's voice echoed. Then Tess' sickening sweet little voice accused, "Sometimes it's easier to do that than to make someone see something that's right in front of her eyes." Max's Mother joined the chorus, "...your young bride." Finally the one she hated hearing the most "Destiny... destiny... destiny..."
The more she tried to ignore them, the more stifled and trapped she felt.
Suddenly it was too much and she jumped out of bed, grabbed her robe and headed for the door. She walked out of her room, down the hall, to the pub's back staircase. The air was definitely cooler there. Sitting on the top step, she leaned against the wall of the stairwell.
Taking deep breaths, Liz tried to vanquish the voices by trying to think of happier times. She remembered when Max reversed the flashes and how special she had felt. Her memories of their first kisses from back in December played across her mind. He'd been so gentle and shy. She laughed softly as she remembered what she'd thought that night. "For a boy who's never kissed before, he sure is a fast learner, thank God." A small wistful smile replaced the laughter.
She was startled out of her memories by a voice behind her in the darkness...